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"That is the 'Sweet Kiss', according to the biology department, this move is inherited from Buneary's father or mother, and it seems to be able to confuse the target," explained Gion, standing on the podium to the people around her.
Although she herself was somewhat unclear, "Those who fall into confusion might attack themselves or their companions, and of course, they might also attack the enemy. I had Buneary use this move on me, but it didn't work on me."
"It might have something to do with one's willpower," Tsuru speculated nearby.
The sergeant who had punched himself soon came to his senses, so his willpower wasn't bad either.
In a Pokémon battle, a Pokémon that falls into a confused state might remain confused until defeated.
"Bun~"
Buneary wasn't just waiting for the sergeant to fully recover.
Right after the sergeant had punched himself, Buneary used the move 'Flash' to quickly dash out, then jumped up with its excellent spring ability.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Its powerful legs kicked out in succession.
That was the fighting-type move 'Double Kick'.
Boom, boom!
Just as the sergeant regained his senses, he felt two heavy hits on his face and fell backward with a nosebleed.
He was just about to get up and continue fighting.
"That's enough," announced Sengoku from the podium, halting the match.
A navy officer, of course, wouldn't go down so easily, but after all, this was not a real battlefield or a fight to the death.
Being beaten up by a Pokémon that was just over a month old, there was no need to continue the competition.
That was enough to achieve the effect Sengoku wanted; continuing the fight might weaken the effect if Buneary were defeated, which was not what Sengoku wanted to see.
"Gion, Buneary is well trained."
Tsuru looked at the excited little bunny waving at Gion and smiled contentedly.
"It's mainly Buneary's own effort."
Gion crossed her arms over her chest, her face expressionless, but her lips were hard to contain.
The competition didn't end there.
"Growlithe, it's your turn next."
Zephyr looked down at the furry big dog beside him, extending a hand to pat its head.
Even though Growlithe often caused him trouble, and occasionally raided the fridge at night making a mess, Zephyr was still quite fond of him.
However, Zephyr's training for Growlithe was definitely more intense than that for his students, about two to three times more.
Even the training intensity of Buneary couldn't compare to that of Growlithe.
After all, Growlithe was naturally full of energy.
"Awoo!"
Growlithe barked confidently, laughing as he hopped into the square.
Inside the Door-Door Space, Dak grinned.
Others might not notice, but how could Dak not be aware of Growlithe's transformation?
This sly one, using the 'Howl' move to boost his own attack power.
"This dog"
As Growlithe passed by Sakazuki, Sakazuki could keenly feel the intense energy within Growlithe.
It might not match his magma, but it was hotter than ordinary flames.
Growlithe's opponent had already been decided.
It was a chief petty officer, a rank above sergeant, who must master at least two of the six powers to qualify.
He was a somewhat chubby navy officer, with a distinctive sausage-mouth, named Stalker, a character who had appeared in the original series.
Inside the Door-Door Space, Dak looked at the once mischievous little dog and smiled contentedly.
"Growlithe, this guy, might be the strongest Pokémon in the navy now."
Although Dak couldn't see Growlithe's level, being with Zephyr was definitely better than being with Gion.
It wasn't just about the difference in strength between Gion and Zephyr, but more importantly, their difference in teaching abilities.
Gion might not have really taught Buneary much, but Zephyr definitely had special sessions for Growlithe.
On the field.
All the navy officers were looking forward to Growlithe's performance.
Although Growlithe looked silly, they could see Growlithe's training state when they occasionally passed by the recruit camp.
"Woof!"
The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, Growlithe's eyes instantly became sharp.
Standing across from him, Stalker felt a bit strange. He couldn't pinpoint it, but he felt a slight change in his body.
"Stare."
Dak observed.
He immediately understood that Growlithe was sneakily using buff-type moves again, but it seemed to have minimal effect on Stalker.
"Shigan."
Stalker didn't have time to focus on the recent change. He wasn't going to let Growlithe make the first move, so he poked forward with a finger.
Stalker, not planning to let Growlithe strike first, moved forward with a swift motion typical of the Shigan technique, one of the two Rokushiki techniques he had mastered.
Growlithe, however, was ready. As Stalker extended his finger, Growlithe's mouth gathered a glowing energy, ready to unleash a fiery retaliation.
"Flamethrower!"
Growlithe released a powerful stream of flames directly at the approaching finger. The air crackled with heat as the fire clashed with Stalker's Shigan, dissipating the attack with a burst of sparks and smoke.
Growlithe wasn't done yet. Using the momentum from its attack, it dashed forward, its body low to the ground.
"Quick Attack!"
Growlithe's speed increased suddenly, almost blurring its form as it raced towards Stalker, who was still reeling from the unexpected force of the Flamethrower.
Stalker, caught off guard, attempted to regroup, trying to predict Growlithe's next move. But before he could fully recover, Growlithe was upon him.
With a swift leap, Growlithe executed a Bite attack, clamping down on Stalker's arm. The bite wasn't deep, but it was enough to make Stalker grimace in pain and attempt to shake off the fiery Pokémon.
"Agh, not bad," Stalker admitted, managing to free his arm with a forceful tug. He stepped back, reassessing his opponent.
Growlithe stood ready, its tail wagging slightly, eyes sharp and focused. It was clear that under Zephyr's training, Growlithe had become more than just a playful companion; it was a formidable opponent.
The navy officers watching the match murmured among themselves, impressed by Growlithe's agility and attack power.
"Enough!" Sengoku's voice boomed again, deciding that the demonstration had sufficiently shown the capabilities of the Pokémon.
"Let's conclude today's exercises. Members of the Pokémon unit may return. Others, please proceed to the conference room."
With that, the crowd began to disperse, talking animatedly about the potential of Pokémon like Growlithe and Buneary in combat scenarios.
Meanwhile, Dak, observing from the Door-Door Space, nodded in approval. His plans for the Pokémon's integration into naval operations were coming together nicely.
As he turned to leave, his thoughts already on the preparations for the upcoming showcase event, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in how far Growlithe had come under Zephyr's tutelage.
The little Pokémon that could once barely follow a command was now turning heads and proving its worth as a valuable asset to the navy.
With the day's training and demonstrations concluded, Dak made his way back to the Mystery Hatchery House. The air was filled with the buzz of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming showcase event.
"Hey Dak, the showcase is starting soon, right?" Robin asked as she saw Dak approaching. Her curiosity about how the visitors would react to Pokémon Island was palpable.
"Yeah, day after tomorrow," Dak confirmed, his voice carrying a mix of anticipation and calm.
Tomorrow would be busy, as Dak needed to start gathering his team and preparing in earnest. The next day, along with his crew members, they would enter the tournament arena early to finalize their roles and responsibilities, familiarize themselves with their tasks, and ensure everything was set for managing the spectators and their Pokémon.
This included guiding attendees to their seats, attending to their needs, and ensuring that no one wandered off or caused trouble. The tasks were straightforward but crucial for maintaining order and safety.
"If anyone steps out of line," Dak explained to his team, "We handle it. Can't manage one-on-one? We handle it as a group. It's that simple."
As Dak was distributing these tasks at the arena, Franky arrived with news of a visitor specifically asking for him.
Puzzled, Dak headed to the branch office and was greeted with a familiar, albeit unexpected, face.
"Hoho, long time no see, Manager Dak," greeted Doflamingo with his usual flamboyance.
"What's up? The showcase doesn't start until tomorrow."
Dak struggled to keep a straight face, intrigued by the sudden visit from Doflamingo, who wasn't yet a Shichibukai and thus should be cautious about appearing so openly in a place closely monitored by the Navy.
"I came to check things out in advance and to bring you a bit of news. The Door-Door Fruit has ended up in the hands of some pirates. We tried to take it from them, but the attempt failed."
Doflamingo's expression was grim as he recounted the unsuccessful raid, likely having lost quite a bit of manpower in the process.
"No worries, they ended up selling the Door-Door Fruit to me," Dak replied, surprising even himself.
Doflamingo had always been daring, but to take on the Revolutionary Army amidst planning the sky island project was bold even for him.
The Revolutionary Army weren't a force to be reckoned with lightly, even for a power player like Doflamingo. Taking such a risk was a testament to his ambition and reach within the underworld.
As Doflamingo pondered his next moves, Dak couldn't help but admire the man's audacity. They both knew the stakes were high, but that was the life they had chosen.